PERSPECTIVE: BEAUTY OR MISERY?

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – “The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for pigmentation is done by our beauty therapists as we don’t have a doctor at our centre. But we are all trained and have the experience to do it.”

This is the standard response this writer encountered when she contacted several beauty centres in the Klang Valley that offered skin treatment packages.  

The writer had been worried about the pigmentation on her face which she first noticed three years ago but had worsened lately, prompting her to scour social media sites for a beauty centre that offered proper skin treatments.

But the response from the beauty therapists she spoke to shocked her – how can treatments such as PRP, also known as a vampire facial, be performed by beauty therapists instead of qualified medical doctors who possess a Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP) that allows them to incorporate medical aesthetic services into their practice?

 These days, PRP is much sought-after by women who want to have their pigmentation treated as well as slow down the ageing process. The treatment involves injecting one’s own platelets into the face using the microneedling technique to jump-start the body’s production of collagen, which can address a range of skin problems.

It is, however, disconcerting to note that many beauty centres are offering PRP and other treatments for as low as RM150 per session – a fraction of the prices charged by clinics offering medical aesthetic services – hence their popularity among women, more so now with Hari Raya around the corner.  

IMPROVE COMPLEXION FOR HARI RAYA

A therapist working at a beauty centre in Ampang, here, told Bernama that two treatments were currently popular during Ramadan, one to treat pigmentation and the other to brighten the complexion.

“Many people were not able to celebrate Raya over the last two years, so this time they want to improve their complexion to look good and radiant for the celebration,” she said.

During this writer’s visit to this particular salon recently, clients could be seen entering and exiting the premises, most of whom sought treatment for their pigmentation, acne and other skin problems; there was even a client who wished to do “lip treatment”. The therapists attending to them were dressed in the attire usually worn by LCP-certified aestheticians.  

One of the therapists informed the writer that PRP can cause allergic reactions but refused to answer when asked how they go about establishing whether or not the treatment is suitable for a client. Her colleagues also avoided answering the question, making it quite obvious that treatments are given without investigating the client’s medical history.

Aesthetic medical expert Dr Nazelia Thibroni told Bernama it is worrying that many beauty centres are offering treatments that should by right be done by qualified medical practitioners.

“The situation is worrying, more so during Ramadan when we find many of these beauty centres offering promotions at ridiculously low prices.

“Actually, the public is aware of the risks of undergoing facial treatments at unaccredited beauty centres but due to the desire to look good during Raya, many women are not heeding the risks,” she said.

Dr Nazelia, who has been practising aesthetics for 10 years and owns three clinics licenced under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), said treatment for pigmentation was among the most sought-after procedures during Ramadan.     

RISK OF HIV INFECTION

She said there are several treatments for pigmentation, one of which is PRP, adding, however, that it is not suitable for everyone.  

She said PRP should not be done on certain categories of patients, including those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, as well as those suffering from allergies or are anaemic.

“It’s understood that some unaccredited beauty centres are offering pigmentation treatment packages comprising laser and PRP treatments at certain prices. They just scan the faces of their clients without investigating their medical problems first.

“This is very dangerous because complications may arise later on, particularly in the case of patients who have (certain) illnesses. Don’t take it easy because some of the risks are life-threatening,” she said, adding that some home-based beauticians are also offering similar services.

Besides the issue of unqualified personnel providing skin treatments, another matter of concern is whether or not they sterilise or disinfect the instruments used by them to prevent any infection.

PRP gained attention worldwide when two clients of a spa in New Mexico in the United States claimed they were infected by HIV after receiving the treatment at the spa concerned between May and September 2018. The use of a contaminated needle could have been the source of infection.

According to Dr Nazelia, when PRP is performed, it is mandatory to use the blood of the client and that the needle has to be disposed of once it is used.

“There’s no such thing as sharing needles… the possibility of such an incident occurring is very small if the procedure (PRP) is done by a qualified medical expert,” she added.

BOTCHED TREATMENTS

She said the high demand for cheap treatments that promise immediate results among women who are obsessed with beauty has led to the proliferation of beauty centres operated by unaccredited “aestheticians” who are out to make quick profits without considering their clients’ safety.

According to the Malaysian Medical Council, the beauty and wellness industry is a billion-dollar industry with an annual growth rate of 15 percent, which makes it a high-value economic sector.

“Many people still think that beauty experts can perform all (kinds of) cosmetic procedures as they have wide experience in this field. This perception is totally wrong.

“Nearly all cosmetic treatments require clients to consult a doctor first unless it is just an ordinary facial or massage that they need,” Dr Nazelia said.

Urging the authorities to act more aggressively against errant beauty centres, she said complications arising from procedures carried out by unqualified personnel were not new in this country. In fact, she added, there have been cases of people finding themselves in a life-threatening situation or even suffering permanent disability.   

Recently, a hairdresser sued two doctors of a beauty clinic for RM2.7 million after a procedure left his nose deformed.  

“That was among the cases resulting from botched treatments by unqualified experts. Many patients have been coming to my clinic to seek an appointment after Raya to ‘fix’ their ‘damaged’ face as a result of using the services of unaccredited beauty centres during Ramadan,” she said.

She said among her patients were those who faced complications after undergoing thread lifts to tighten the skin on their face and neck at unaccredited beauty facilities. Most of them complained of pus formation, swelling and hardness in the areas where the sutures were placed. In fact, one patient’s nose appeared deformed, possibly due to the use of incorrect procedures or materials.  

Dr Nazelia said she had many patients from Perak and Terengganu whose thread lifts were botched by unqualified beauticians who make house visits.

“But I wasn’t able to treat them. They were offered the thread lift at RM70 per session, whereas LCP-certified clinics charge between RM1,800 and RM2,500 (for the same procedure). Many people fall for the cheap rates but end up coming to us when complications arise,” she said, adding that in the case of certain botched-up treatments, the scars left on the face are permanent and cannot be removed.  

Only doctors possessing the LCP are allowed to practice aesthetic medicine. The LCP was introduced by the Ministry of Health to regulate the medical aesthetic practice and check the sharp rise in unqualified personnel and beauty centres offering aesthetic treatments.

Translated by Rema Nambiar

-- BERNAMA